Pretoria - Solidarity has produced a documentary in which victims of crime speak about their ordeals and plead with President Jacob Zuma to act, the trade union said on Tuesday.

The documentary, featuring singer Steve Hofmeyr, is part of a campaign which included a national day of protest on May 19, said Solidarity's deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann.

In the documentary, which was shown to the media at Solidarity's head office in Centurion, a woman whose daughter died of rape injuries, asked that Zuma reinstate the death penalty.

Other South Africans spoke of the loss of their loved ones or their near-death experiences at the hands of criminals.

"We should never allow crime to become normal. We should never allow it to be part of society... It can happen," said Hermann.150 000 to protest

He said the day of protest was expected to be the largest protest action against crime in South Africa, with 150 000 participants.

They would hand over 300 anti-crime memorandums across the country, including in Pretoria where there would be a concert after the protest.

"South Africa will be painted red on the day. We expect thousands of South Africans to wear red," Hermann said.

The colour red signified bloodshed, he said, adding that the day's message would be: "We are tired of bloodshed."

Hermann said small businesses had agreed to close between 13:00 and 14:00 on May 19. Pupils at some schools in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, and some in Gauteng and North West would wear red in support.Zuma received 360 000 letters

Solidarity recently delivered more than 360 000 letters to Zuma from South Africans who were "sick and tired" of crime.

He said the trade union had aligned itself with the "Shout" campaign by various artists who had banded together to fight crime and had produced a song to this end.

"We have aligned ourselves with a safer South Africa," said Hermann.

He said that the May 19 demonstration would be followed by mass protests in various industries.

These would take place as soon as the trade union obtained the go-ahead from the National Economic Development and Labour Council.